But what about the parts of the story that aren't quite so nice? Where God sanctions the killing of thousands of people, as in the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Where God demands that women who are "witches," should not be suffered to live. A quick run by list should be enough to prove my point.
And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. - Leviticus 24:16
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them [by God] over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. - Revealation 6:8
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. - Romans 1:26-32
These are only three passages from the Bible which illustrate my point - www.skepticsannotatedbible.com has each verse annotated and classified if one is curious to see more. The thing that I feel is most alarming is what these verses of scripture imply. Sure, they are just a bunch of words, but it's not the words that are so hateful, it is what they represent. The Bible, according to Christians, is the undoubtable, correct word of God. So, according to these passages, God condones killing people who are against Him, and he encourages hatred. Anid it is not just these three passages that illustrate my point - there are hundreds of them, scattered throughout the whole thing, filled with words of violence, evil, and the sheer ridiculousness of Gods "truth."
Not only does the Bible condemn homosexuality in the previously listed Romans verse, but it calls homosexuals countless aweful names - inventors of evil things, unmerciful, wicked. etc.. Think of what this is saying! God is basically giving humans a write off to condemn other human beings. Aren't we forgetting that these homosexuals are people too? Even if one were to believe homosexuality is wrong, where do they get the privelage to be able to call other humans derogatory terms. It's words like these that have encouraged people to do unspeakable things to other humans, in the name of God and righteousness. This book of scripture is encouraging divisiveness among humans and it should be red flag of alert. Think of what your children are reading in Sunday School - a watered down, kid friendly version of a belief that has, at is core, the virtues of hatred, killing, and discrimination. Granted, Christians are not murderers and evil people - most of the people in my acquaintance have had a Christian uprbringing and/or still are Christians - and they're great, honest, people who live normal lives. What is dangerous is what they are reading! Whether we acknowledge it or not, after having heard and read these things over and over again, which Church does every Sunday, they have significant influence over a person. Shouldn't something be done to make suere that our children, husbands, wives, and friends aren't being taught concepts like these?
Why do people feel the need to be a part of a religion that encourages, teaches, and glorifies these things? Why is there the need to take the name of God and put it on an idea to justify it? If there really is a God, does he really not mind killing people, as he does in Exodus, when he kills all the first born children - children! - of Egypt? Does he consider women property? Does he condemn others to hell for not having the same belief systems? I simply cannot sit contently and watch while our fellow friends and family are subject to these aweful ideas and theology that the Bible condones. What must it take for people to realize that killing, hatred, discrimination, and fear in the "name of God" are not righteous, holy or Godly in any shape, way, or form?
Where is the humanity in all of this? It makes me sad that somehow, a book filled with hatred toward the beauty of humanity has been the moral code for Western civilization? What is wrong with this world?
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